News

Foals off to flying start

3rd Aug 2010

Daily Telegraph - Ray Thomas - Monday, 2 August 2010

THE birth over the weekend of the first foals from an expected 16,000-strong crop has signalled the beginning of the thoroughbred breeding season.

But at Arrowfield and Widden Studs there is already reason to celebrate after the significant achievements of their stallions during the 2009/10 racing year.

Redoute's Choice, Arrowfield's super sire, clinched his second Australian Stallion premiership with total prizemoney of $9,032,392.

His progeny included Melito, winner of two Group One races (T.J. Smith Stakes, Winter Stakes), Dariana (Queensland Derby) and Allez Wonder (Toorak Handicap).

Redoute's Choice was represented by 14 individual stakes winners last season, the most of any stallion.

"His two Australian Sires titles to date have been won with a combined total of 169 fewer runners than his nearest rival, which highlights the quality of his stock," Arrowfield Stud chairman John Messara enthused.

Redoute's Choice's sons, Stratum and Snitzel, topped the first season sires list, and another, Not A Single Doubt, was among the top five second season sires.

Widden Stud's Stratum, sire of Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily, became the first stallion in history whose progeny have amassed over $3 million in their first season.

"No stallion has ever cracked $3 million in their first season, with Danehill coming closest 17 years ago with $1.7 million," Widden Stud's Antony Thompson revealed.

Danehill, Stratum's grandsire, was the last stallion to sire a Golden Slipper winner in his first crop.